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Who Should Get
Vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of
getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain
people should get vaccinated each year either because
they are at high risk of having serious flu-related
complications or because they live with or care for high
risk persons. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies
are limited or delayed, the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations
regarding priority groups for vaccination
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm .
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
1. People at high risk for complications from the flu,
including:
Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
Pregnant women,
People 50 years of age and older,
People of any age with certain chronic medical
conditions, and
People who live in nursing homes and other long term
care facilities.
2. People who live with or care for those at high risk
for complications from flu, including:
Household contacts of persons at high risk for
complications from the flu (see above)
Household contacts and out of home caregivers of
children less than 6 months of age (these children are
too young to be vaccinated)
Health care workers.
3. Anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.
Use of the Nasal Spray Flu
Vaccine
Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an
option for healthy persons aged 5-49 years who are not
pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for
those in a high risk group. The one exception is healthy
persons who care for persons with severely weakened
immune systems who require a protected environment;
these healthy persons should get the inactivated
vaccine.
Who Should Not Be
Vaccinated
Some people should not be vaccinated without first
consulting a physician. They include:
People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza
vaccination in the past.
People who developed Guillain-Barrι syndrome (GBS)
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/gbs.htm within 6
weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine
is not approved for use in this age group).
People who have a moderate or severe illness with a
fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms
lessen.
If you
have questions about whether you should get a flu
vaccine, consult your health-care provider or call the
Cherokee County Texas Health Department at 903.683.4688
For more information, visit
www.cdc.gov/flu
or call CDC at 800-CDC-INFO (English and Spanish) or
888-232-6358 (TTY). |
